Stranger Things: Season 5. (Left to Right) Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, and David Harbor as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things: Season 5. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix/Netflix © 2025
The wait between chapters is over. Just a month after the explosive premiere of the final season, stranger things Season 5 Volume 2 arrives as the ultimate holiday gift. Following the precedent set by Volume 1, Netflix is ​​sticking to its unconventional release strategy for this batch of episodes, meaning it won’t be getting a standard midnight release like other Netflix Originals. When can you start the next chapter of the Hawkins saga? Here’s your complete guide.
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably (barely) recovered from the confusion of Volume 1. With the Upside Down becoming a reality and Vecna’s end game in motion, the stakes have never been higher. The chess pieces are set face down with Hopper, L and Kali. Dustin, Steve and the crew head to Hawkins Lab, and Will saves many of our heroes from monsters with his new powers.
The huge cast returns for this final block of episodes, including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and the rest of the legendary party, who must once again come together to save the world – or at least save their hometown.
what time does stranger things Will season 5 part 2 go live?
As they did for the Thanksgiving release of Volume 1, Netflix is ​​using a “primetime” release schedule for Volume 2. This is a separation from the classic midnight PT drop, meaning US viewers can watch it on Christmas Eve, while international fans will be awake for new episodes the next day, December 26, or Boxing Day as some call it.
If you’re in North or South America, episodes will air on Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day). If you’re in Europe, Asia or anywhere east of the Atlantic, episodes will be available on Friday, December 26 (Boxing Day).
UPDATE: Confirmed time zones for the holiday release:
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Release
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Why isn’t Volume 2 releasing at Midnight PT?
For over a decade, Netflix has conditioned us to expect new content at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time. However, for this final season of their biggest show, they’ve switched gears. Volume 2 is getting a “primetime” slot to take advantage of maximum viewing hours.
By releasing the show at 5:00 pm Pacific (8:00 pm Eastern), Netflix has turned it into a live event, allowing families gathering for Christmas to watch it together instantly. This strategy also helps reduce spoilers for American viewers – who make up a large portion of the viewership – by ensuring that episodes air at a time when most people are awake and available, rather than in the middle of the night.
I can’t see Volume 2 on my dashboard yet!
It’s Christmas Eve (or Boxing Day morning), the clock has struck, but you’re only watching Volume 1? Don’t panic. You’ll likely need to force refresh the Netflix library. Here’s how to do it depending on your device:
- Smart TV/Console: Go to the “Get Help” section in the sidebar menu (usually near the bottom). Select “Reload Netflix.” If that fails, exit the app completely and relaunch it.
- Tablets and phones: Force close the app (swipe it away from your active apps list) and tap the icon to reopen it.
- Desktop/Laptop: If you’re in a browser, press CTRL+F5 (Windows) or CMD+R (Mac) to trigger a hard refresh.
If episodes still refuse to display, try completely restarting your device. You can find more troubleshooting tips in Netflix Help Center,
What episodes are coming in Volume 2?
While Volume 1 set the stage with the first four episodes, Volume 2 ramps up the action with the next three chapters of the saga, with runtimes equivalent to mini-movies as reported earlier this week:
- Episode 5: Shock Jock – 1 hour 8 minutes
- Episode 6: Escape from Camazotz – 1 hour 15 minutes
- Episode 7: Bridge – 1 hour 6 minutes
Stranger Things: Season 5. Vecna ​​in Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix/Netflix © 2025
Some last minute teases for volume 2
What can we say without bringing in Netflix’s highly trained snipers? We would say that the main topics of Volume 2 are: control, trust, and cost of electricity. Some long-running mysteries surrounding certain characters are finally established, and some battle lines are redrawn.
Earlier in the week, we also teased: “You can expect family revelations, scientific discoveries, big fights, reconciliation, an epic hospital escape, and a big plan coming together to bring down Vecna ​​once and for all.”
When will Volume 3 (The Finale) be released?
Once you’ve finished studying Section 2, there is only one piece of the puzzle left. The series finale – a massive, film-length event – ​​is being held for one final celebration.
- Volume 3 – Chapter Eight – The Rightside Up (series finale)
- For viewers in North and South America, the final episode has started December 31 (New Year’s Eve).
- For viewers in Europe and the rest of the world, the finale becomes available January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day).
Volume 2 This is your essential guide to holiday releases. Will you be watching right after Christmas dinner?